‘Artificial Intelligence for Decarbonisation’s Virtual Centre of Excellence’ (ADViCE) is part of the UK government’s larger AI for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme, which accelerates the development of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for decarbonisation applications, to support the UK’s transition to Net Zero. The initiative forms part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The project is led by the Digital Catapult, in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult and the Alan Turing Institute.

The programme actively promotes coordination and collaboration between AI innovators and leading businesses within the UK’s carbon-emitting sectors, in order to maximise the economic and environmental benefits of AI solutions in solving UK industry’s most critical decarbonisation challenges.

The virtual centre of excellence will act as the front door for all collaborators, participants and contributors to foster a vital ecosystem which will:

• disseminate information publicly and to relevant networks
• identify strategic and priority challenges for AI innovation for decarbonisation
• provide pathways to leverage private funding

Sectors and stakeholders

ADViCE will focus on addressing barriers and exploring innovation opportunities within several sectors that are key to unlocking a Net Zero future for the UK. Sectors of particular focus are:

• Agriculture
• Built Environment
• Energy
• Manufacturing

Active stakeholder participation across these sectors is essential to promote the adoption and diffusion of AI decarbonisation applications. ADViCE is specifically designed to encourage collaboration and engagement from:

• UK industry/companies (potential AI adopters)
• AI developers and innovators
• Investment community
• Local government authorities
• Regulatory authorities
• Academia and research centres

How to get involved

ADViCE will launch with the publication of two reports that will map the ecosystem of stakeholders and define the challenges faced within the sectors of focus. The reports will act as the foundations of a knowledge base that will be the hub of information for all collaborators throughout the duration of the programme.

Following the publication of the challenge definition report, a series of thought leadership webinars, leadership roundtables and working groups will be hosted by the ADViCE delivery partners to facilitate the necessary discussions that will accelerate the adoption of AI for decarbonisation solutions.

More details of how to get involved will be released in due course.

CEO of Digital Catapult, Dr Jeremy Silver, said:

“The ADViCE programme will drive forward AI’s integral role in solving critical decarbonisation challenges. The programme partners sit at the heart of the UK’s dynamic AI ecosystem and are perfectly placed to forge collaborations between the technology community and some of our most carbon intensive sectors.

Smart use of AI and data will be fundamental to meeting the UK’s net zero commitment. ADViCE will support those building the algorithms and those investing in AI solutions in the most impactful way possible.”

Sam Young, Practice Manager (Data Science & AI) at Energy Systems Catapult, said: 

“Accelerating decarbonisation is a critical challenge for our society, and artificial intelligence can play a major role in that. However, without sector-specific knowledge it can be hard for AI developers to find the most impactful problems to work on.

“The ADViCE programme addresses that by both mapping out key challenges and facilitating connections between people and organisations who have different parts of the puzzles.”